Step-ladder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. M. JONES. STEP LADDER.

No. 596,779. Patented Jan. 4,1898.

(No Modl.) v2 Shqets-Sheet 2. T. M. ES. STEP ER.

No. 596.779. Patented Jan, 4, 1898.

E7555- [mm/mm y wfl "1 W MJM a, 2mm fig UNITED STATES ATENT THOMAS M. JONES, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO MELVILLE FRIEDLIOI-I, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,779, dated January 4:, 1898.

Application filed AprillZ, 1897. Serial No 631,874. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. JONES, of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Oregolnhave invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Step-Ladders; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,whicl1 form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a step-ladder, and has for its object to construct a rigid means of supporting the ladder by a novel form of brace connection that shall allow of com pactness in folding the braces.

A further object is to reduce the expense of manufacture to a minimum by reason of the brace connection with the ladder proper.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete ladder when extended. Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the brace folded upon the ladder.

In constructing the ladder the side pieces 1 are transversely recessed at 2 to receive the ends 3 of the steps 4, thereby reducing the expense of assembling the steps with relation to the side pieces to a minimum, and to hold the side pieces 1 to the proper adjustment cross-strips 5 are let into the back edge of the side pieces, as at 6, these cross-pieces being arranged at thelower ends of the side pieces, the upper ends being held apart and braced by the step 7 and the cross-piece 8, secured at their respective ends to the side pieces.

In order to provide an inexpensive and rigid brace-support for the ladder, cross-bar 8 is seated approximately one-half its thickness in the upper back portions of the side pieces, as at 9, with the outer face of bar 8 in parallel relation with the edge of the side pieces.

The brace comprises two legs 10, held in proper relation as to distance apart by a transverse bar 11 and crossbraces 12, all of which are let into the wood to be flush with the edge, the lower transverse bar 11 being near the lower end of the legs. At the upper end the legs are cut at an angle to their length, as

at 13,fr01n the outer face 14 of the legs to nearly the width,with an inverse angular projection 15 extending from the inner side, upon which and the angled end 13 of the legs, the edge 16 and the lower side, respectively, of a cross bar 17 rest and are secured. Cross-bar 17 is of a width to extend beyond the face 14 of the legs'and is inclined inversely to the angle 13 and coincident with the angle or projection 15, whereby when the brace is extended to support the ladder the inclined portion 1S will'seat closely under the top step 7 and support the projecting ledge 19 of the step. The brace is hinged to the ladder by means of hinges 20, secured upon the lower edges of cross-bars 8 and 17. By this construction it will be seen that the brace is brought into rigid connection when extended by reason of the contact of bar 17 with bar 8 and also the contact of the inclined edge 18 of bar 17 with the upper step. For this reason the ladder when extended is of the greatest rigidity and the construction of the ladder reduced to a minimum cost.

What I claim isv In a step-ladder, the ladder proper compris 7 5 ing side pieces recessed transversely upon their inner side, steps secured to the side pieces, cross-strips secured to each side piece at their lower portions, 21- step secured upon their tops, with a parallel transverse bar secured beneath the top, whereby the side pieces are held firmly to the steps, and a brace comprising legs having cross-strips secured thereto, and a transverse bar secured upon their upper ends at an angle to their length,the 8 5 upper edge of the bar being angled, hinges secured to the two bars, whereby, when the legs or brace are extended the angled bar and the angled edge will contact with the bar upon the ladder and the under side of the top step respectively.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. JONES.

Witnesses F. T. BALDWIN, N. R. HARRINGTON. 

